REVIEW: RUSTIN

4/5

He Had A Dream. 

106 Mins. Starring: Colman Domingo, Aml Ameen, Glynn Turman, Audra McDonald, Michael Potts, CCH Pounder, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Chris Rock & Jeffrey Wright. Screenplay: Julian Breece & Dustin Lance Black. Director: George C. Wolfe. On: Netflix.

A one, a two, you know what to do. Give Colman Domingo the Best Actor Academy Award for 'Rustin', streaming now on Netflix. The 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom', 'Selma' and 'Lincoln' actor needs more than an Oscar nomination like his Tony and Olivier nods. The Emmy is lonely in the cabinet of trophies. The 'Euphoria' of this actor, writer and director of stage and screen is trending towards this being his big moment, after building on so many monumental ones in his own career. It's the little things that's got him to where he is now, starring in a recurring 'Fear The Walking Dead' spin-off role, or voicing the caped crusader himself, Batman on a Spotify podcast, 'The Riddler: Secrets In The Dark'. Little things like his wonderful reaction to his daughter's pregnancy in 'Moonlight' Oscar winning director Barry Jenkins' seriously overlooked adaptation of James Baldwin's 'If Beale Street Could Talk'. Or the Civil Rights activist he portrays picking up trash after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's 'I Have A Dream' speech like Japanese fans from the stands after the World Cup. The goal and dream to always do the right thing, for everybody, regardless of their colour, creed, or background, always in sight. Rocking along to Lenny Kravitz's soundtrack anthem 'Road To Freedom' riding.

Bayard Rustin was and remains in history as an all-American hero. Even if it took until 2013 and President Barack Obama for this African-American leader of social movements for civil rights, socialism, non-violence and gay rights to be awarded the Presidential Medal Of Freedom. Reminding us from the United Kingdom about Alan Turing. The man that helped crack the Enigma machine and win the war. Who, also in 2013, was finally granted a pardon from the Queen. A pardon for what exactly? Like Rustin, Turing was born homosexual. How far we've come, but how long it took, and yet, there's still work to be done. Bayard Rustin spearheaded the campaign to organize the March On Washington where Martin shared his dream to millions from The Mall of DC, flanked by a statue of Abraham Lincoln, the President who freed the slaves. Despite those trying to defer his dream like J. Edgar Hoover, the director of the FBI, who these days would probably be perfect for a job at TMZ. And what was J. Edgar hiding in his closet (see the great Eastwood and DiCaprio movie) when he was claiming that Martin Luther's Queen was not Coretta Scott King? Rustin also faced opposition from his own people. The people he was trying to bring equality too. Even the King. And in Domingo's second MLK movie after the glory of the stirring 'Selma', Colman compels us with powerful speeches of his own, using Dr. King's words, not against him, but to remind him of exactly the creed he believes, and what that really means. Together. 

Colman's candid charisma captures his character and us in all it's cool. Like the above picture, that actually reveals something much deeper in the lens. The first promotional picture, instead of in-movie shot we've used for the header of a review since the cool of Don Cheadle channelling Miles Davis for 'Miles Ahead'. The brave, bold and beautiful Domingo gives us a definitive performance of defiance that's a true powerhouse to the lick of an award show envelope, and the history lessons this film will document for generations to come. Reuniting with wonderful 'Ma Rainey' director George C. Wolfe and actor Glynn Turman who carries power in his voice like all the microphones trained on a soaring speech. David Oyelowo was fit for a King in 'Selma', but 'Kidulthood', 'Yardie' and 'The Butler' actor Aml Ameen (fun fact: at 11 he performed on stage with Michael Jackson at the 1996 Brit Awards performance that was invaded by Pulp's Jarvis Cocker, now making movie moments with Wes Anderson) dreams just as big and deeper. The always great Audra McDonald ('Porgy and Bess'), CCH Pounder ('The X-Files' and 'ER') and Michael Potts ('The Wire') step it up even more. Whilst the divine Da'Vine Joy Randoph ('Dolemite Is My Name', 'The United States Vs. Billie Holiday') is electrifying as Mahalia Jackson, and you can take that as gospel. Scripted by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black ('Milk' and coincidentally 'J. Edgar'), marching towards the words from the podium.

'Oppenheimer's' very own Christopher Nolan recently warned that streaming services like this very Netflix (that even take it back to their pre-blockbuster days of being a movie mail rental service in their amazing 'Scott Pilgrim' anime adaptation this week) could mean movies get lost in the shuffle without their physical art form taking its place. Yet, you shouldn't pass this one over. Nor should you 'Nyad', the great swimming achievement channelled by Annette Benning and Jodie Foster. Even if there seems to be pushback against more LGBT films coming out these days from ignorant viewers who think enough is enough. Not knowing that these two films without ticking any boxes just present the life of their subjects as it is. Just normal and loving like everyone else in the background of what they're trying to achieve, until hate stands in their way and makes it an issue that shouldn't have to be bigger than the one they're trying to make. Back to the story of the movie and not so-called scandal, a salt and pepper Chris Rock continues that 'New Jack City' to 'Amsterdam' acting journey for the classic comedian. And it's always great to hear from The Watcher voice of character chameleon Jeffrey Wright. Even if Wolfe's 'Angel In America' who has played everyone from Basquiat to Batman's Gordon, not to mention Bond's Felix, is the one character here you just can't see eye-to-eye with. But it all just makes for a nuanced narrative in this beautiful biographical account of an amazing feat. From 1963 to 2023 for the sixtieth anniversary, this Barack and Michelle Obama picture reaches Higher Ground. It's a wonder. People keep on learning. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom', 'Selma', 'Nyad'.